The first flood warning for five districts downstream Vaigai dam is likely to be issued by Wednesday as water level in the reservoir is steadily going up.
The level that stood at 64.63 feet (permissible level 71 feet) at 6 a.m. on Tuesday rose to 65.26 feet in 12 hours. The inflow into the dam was 4,458 cusecs.
The first warning will be issued as and when the level touched 66 feet, and the second warning at 68.50 feet. On issuing the third and final warning at 69 feet, the entire inflow to the dam will be released into the river.
Meanwhile, water level in the Periyar dam also kept increasing and it stood at 124.60 feet (136 feet) with an inflow of 3,824 cusecs and a discharge of 1,342 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 5,113 mcft. Both the dams have more storage when compared to the corresponding day last year.
The smaller dams in the basin are also in the verge of surplussing. Sattaiyar dam had water up to 27.40 feet as against its maximum level of 29 feet. The levels of other dams are: Manjalar dam 52.60 feet (57 feet); Marudhanadi 61.08 feet (64 feet) and Sothuparai dam 91.84 feet (126 feet).
Rainfall
Shanmuganadi recorded 32 mm of rainfall followed by Uthamapalayam 25, Vaigai dam 21, Viraghanoor 20, Veerapandi 17, Marudhanadi 13.3, Tekkadi 12.6, Madurai 12.4, Sothuparai dam 12, Idayapatti 11.2, Kuppanampatti 10, Peranai 8, Kodaikanal 7.8, Gudalur and Kallandiri 6 each, Sittampatti 5.4, Sattaiyar dam 4.3, Melur 4, Pulipatti 3.5, Periyar dam 3.2, Manjalar dam and Andipatti 3 each and Thaniyamangalam 2.